With just under 10 minutes left in the game and the Hornets holding momentum after cutting the Celtics’ once sizable lead to four, Robert Williams set a screen up high for Tremont Waters. The guard drove to the basket and lofted an off-the mark lob for Aaron Nesmith.
His shot bounced off the rim, but Williams alertly moved toward the basket, and the ball, as it so often does, found him. He caught it and laid it in in one motion.
After two weeks off with a knee injury, Williams wasn’t back at the peak of his powers yet, but his presence gave the Celtics a lift. That play seemed to steady Boston, which survived some mildly anxious moments before pulling away for the 120-111 win.
Williams had four points, nine rebounds and two blocked shots in 17 minutes.
“We missed his presence,” Jayson Tatum said. “Glad he was back. I love playing with Rob. He’s probably my favorite person to play with, with the energy he brings and all the little things he does on the floor.”
Jaylen Brown agreed.
“He just adds a threat when he’s rolling to the paint,” Brown said. “It was his first game back, but the better he plays, the better we’re going to go. We’re looking to get him rolling. Hopefully by playoff time he’s in full form.”
Williams’ return kept both Luke Kornet, whose contributions Tuesday were overshadowed by the result, and Jabari Parker from entering the game. Grant Williams only played just one minute as Brad Stevens shortened his rotation.
“It felt great being out there with my teammates,” Williams said in his postgame interview with the Celtics’ web site. “I missed a couple of games. It was kind of sad because I felt like I could help them a lot.”
EVAN FOURNIER STILL RECOVERING - On April 4, right before Evan Fournier contracted COVID-19, he had 17 points on 5-for-9 shooting. It was his second straight strong offensive performance as he appeared to be settling into a role following the trade from Orlando.
But after a 19-day pause, he’s yet to rediscover his shot. He’s 5-for-29 (17.2%) in his last four games, including 2-for-17 from 3-point range (11.7%) after Wednesday’s 1-for-7 (0-for-3 on 3-pointers) shooting.
Brad Stevens said Fournier is still fighting his way through COVID aftereffects.
“He will not make this excuse, but he is dealing with some of the aftereffects of it. He’s feeling better wind-wise, but he’s just a little foggy,” Stevens said. “He’s talked about it openly and we’ve done our best to help him, but the way he can best get through it, from everything they know, is to continue to log minutes and log experience. He is frustrated by it, I’m sure. But it affects everybody differently. It’s been a challenge for him, but all he wants to do is play and help us win.”
NEW STARTERS - WIth Marcus Smart (suspension) and Kemba Walker (side injury) both out, Stevens started Tremont Waters instead of Payton Pritchard and kept Tristan Thompson in the starting lineup even with Williams back.
Waters had six points and six assists in a career-high 25 minutes. Thompson had 12 points and 13 rebounds including nine points and eight boards in the first half.
FORMER CELTICS - Terry Rozier didn’t have a great shooting night against his former team, but he scored nine of his 15 points and three of his seven assists in the fourth quarter when Charlotte threatened to close the gap. Each time the Hornets got within three points, it was Rozier who got them there.
Brad Wanamaker had two points and three assists in 21 minutes in his fourth game against the Celtics this season (three with Charlotte and one with Golden State).
SCOREBOARD WATCHING - Of the three games that could impact the Celtics’ spot in the standings, only one finished the way Boston wanted.
The Sixers crushed the Hawks, 127-83, allowing the Celtics (33-30), who are tied for sixth to move within a game of fifth-place Atlanta (34-29). The Heat, who are sharing sixth with Boston, held off San Antonio, 116-111.
The Knicks, who are in fourth at 35-28, pulled away from the Bulls, 113-94. They have a two-game lead over the Heat and Celtics, and are one game on the Hawks.
ETC.- Patriots owner Robert Kraft was in attendance at the game sitting with Celtics counterpart Wyc Grousbeck. ... Pritchard missed several minutes in the second half with ice on his nose as he tried to contain a nosebleed after taking a stray elbow to the face. ... The Celtics have had four three-game losing streaks this season, but Wednesday’s win helped them avoid their first four-game skid.
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